Fine motor skills development with Montessori puzzles and sorting tasks.

4 Ways You Can Teach Your Child the Importance of Self-Esteem

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Many parents overlook the significance of developing high self-esteem in their children in their early childhood. However, according to a 2015 study by University of Washington researchers, children have a sense of self-esteem comparable in strength to that of adults. “Some scientists consider preschoolers too young to have developed a positive or negative sense about themselves. Our findings suggest that self-esteem, feeling good or bad about yourself, is fundamental,” said Andrew Meltzoff, co-author of the study and co-director of the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences. “It is a social mindset child bring to school with them, not something they develop in school.” When children learn the importance of self-esteem at a younger age, they’re more likely to be successful in future endeavors because they feel liked and accepted, confident, and proud of their abilities.

Here are four ways you can build your child’s self-esteem!

1. Teach them new things:

It’s important to encourage your children to learn new things because finding new skills can help boost their confidence and fuel your child’s curiosity. A perfect example may be teaching them how to do certain chores around the house like helping you prepare simple meals and organizing laundry. It is beneficial in the long run because being able to own up to newer responsibilities and chores can do that by providing a sense of fulfillment.

2. Praise your child, but don’t overpraise:

According to Psychology Today, the negative effects of overpraising may lead to feelings of entitlement, inadequacy, and disappointment. Children start to rely on your compliments every they accomplish something to feel validated instead of seeking validation within themselves. Just like adults, children need to know that no one is perfect. Doing this correctly will also teach them resilience.

To avoid the negative effects of overpraising, try not to praise your child every time they achieve something. Instead, praise them for achievements that truly deserve praise, such as learning something new or making progress on a task they had struggled with but made efforts to improve upon.

3. Be careful with your words:

Yelling and saying mean things to your child can result in harsh effects on the brain. According to Healthline, yelling can worsen your child’s behavior. Remember that children also learn from your behavior. How you treat your child is how they will think it’s acceptable to treat others. If you use harsh words to communicate with your child, it can lead to them copying the behavior and becoming a bully to their peers.

4. Teach them positive affirmations:

It’s important to teach your child positive affirmations because it can lead to having more optimistic outlook on their lives. Whether it’s writing notes on an index card or standing in front of a mirror, have your child acknowledge their own positive and negative attributes. Teaching them how them to recognize their flaws lets them know that no one is perfect and helps them to accept and embrace their own imperfections.

How We Encourage Positive Self Esteem at Creative Child Learning Center

At Creative Child Learning Center, we encourage our children to become their best selves by showing individual interest in each child and helping them build their own confidence. We value the unique characteristics of each student because we take pride in appreciating our children for their diversity, challenges, successes, and tremendous potential.

A peaceful Montessori classroom where students explore practical life activities.

Teaching Your Children To Share

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Whether it’s food, toys, ideas, or even friends, many children have a hard time sharing with others. Although it’s important that they learn sharing is caring. When children learn how to share, they learn one of the most valuable social skills. Sharing enables them to value people more than objects, practice fairness, and learn empathy.

Here are three tips on when it comes to sharing:

1. Don’t scold them for not sharing

Demanding your child to share doesn’t always have a positive outcome. To us, a child’s teddy bear is just a toy. But to a child, it might be something more. According to Colleen Goddard, a Child Development Specialist at Beginnings Nursery School in New York City,  children have “transitional objects” to cope with separation anxiety like when their parents drop them off at school. “In the earliest of classrooms, transitions are experienced over and over,” Goddard wrote in Psychology Today. “A parent says goodbye and the child responds in a cathartic release emotion. It is in these moments where the healing power of transitional objects is fully utilized.” The last thing you’d want to do is create resentment early on in life. Understand that there will be barriers, and a child should feel that it’s okay not to share some objects sometimes.

2. Teach them turn-taking

When you teach your child the art of taking turns, you’re teaching them fairness. In a child’s mind, sharing translates into them giving something up for good. But turn-taking reassures them that they can share without giving up anything. You can practice turn-taking with your children by setting a timer to mark the end of their turn with a toy or game, or by having a waiting list.

3. Be an example

As parents, it’s important to be mindful of our own behavior because children learn from watching us. If you ever have an opportunity to share something with your partner or a friend in front of your child, make sure your child acknowledges the exchange and sees how happy it makes you both afterwards. If you also share with your child often, they will want to share as much with you. For example, at dinner time, ask your child if they want a piece of your dessert. Starting with the small acts will teach them to be kind and value making their loved ones happy.

Sharing at Creative Child Learning Center

At Creative Child Learning Center, we believe in exposing children to real life situations where interactions where sharing is necessary to fulfill their potential as individuals. With support from our loving and dedicated teachers, we aim to help our students develop a sense of self-worth and responsibility, as well as enthusiasm and belonging.

A practical life activity where students pour water to develop coordination.

How to Approach Your Child’s Technology Addiction

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As technology advances, technology addictions are increasing and they’re affecting children at an alarming rate. Even small children are impacted, children with technology addictions are more to prone to having tantrums when they’re away from their devices, having negative attitudes about being active, and having codependency towards their devices.

Other effects of technology addiction in children include: falling more easily to peer pressure; seeing inappropriate material; getting bullied, poor social skills; aggressive behavior; sleep problems; and difficulty paying attention. While it’s important to catch the warning signs, it’s just as important to prevent a technology addiction in the first place.

Here are some key tips on how to prevent your child’s technology addiction!
1. Don’t replace their boredom with devices

When you give your child an electronic device when they’re bored, sad, or mad, you’re building a reliance to make all their worries go away. As an alternative, focus on getting your child interested in a healthier hobby, such as extracurricular activities at school. Hobbies can positively affect a child by relieving their stress, teaching them how to express themselves, build self-esteem, and strengthening their social skills.

2. Plan more outdoor time

Today’s children are spending less time outdoors than they should because of their devices. According to the National Recreation and Park Association, “children today spend less time outdoors than other generations, devoting only four to seven minutes to unstructured outdoor play per day while spending an average of seven and a half hours in front of electronic media.” This has led to increasing rates in child obesity, and it can cause numerous health problems. Push your children to play more outside. Check out your local playground, kick a ball around your backyard, or plan a fun weekend at an amusement park. Children will enjoy staying active while getting some fresh air.

3. Set guideline for priorities before screen time

Enforce the concept that screen time is a privilege, and not a necessity in your child’s life. Make your child used to the idea that they need to complete their chores, finish their homework, and any other obligations before they hop on their devices. It’ll help your child learn that taking care of their responsibilities comes before the fun.

4. Consider your own time spent on technology

If your child notices that you cling to your technology as well, it will become the standard for them. In a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 46% of adults believe that they couldn’t live without their smartphones. That’s why it’s important to monitor the time you spend on your own phone and set a good example for your child. Instead of phone time, spend quality time a family.

Technology at Creative Child Learning Center

At Creative Child Learning Center, we urge our children to be more interactive with their peers by limiting the time they spend on the computer and encouraging more outdoor play. We support the importance of cultivating their social skills and being more active at such a developmental period. We provide children with opportunities to start new hobbies by incorporating music, art, and crafts into their curriculum.

An art project in a Montessori classroom using natural materials for creativity.

Raising a Bilingual Child

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As the world gets smaller, bilingualism is becoming more of a necessity. Parents are realizing the importance of a raising a bilingual child in today’s society. Although raising a bilingual child may seem to require a lot of time and effort, the benefits will make it all worth it. Consider these social and cognitive benefits:

Positive Effects on the Brain

According to Science Daily, bilingual brains are better equipped to process information. As a bilingual, your brain is wired to constantly choose  between languages to communicate, and this improves your ability to choose important information and ignore irrelevant details, and making decisions. In addition, studies funded by the National Institute of Health have shown that children who grow up learning to speak two languages are better at multitasking than those who only speak one.

Social and Cultural Development

Being bilingual can help children develop their social skills. In a recent study from the University of Chicago, research showed that bilingual children are more likely to be empathetic and better communicators. Exposure to another language and culture automatically give children another perspective, which helps children to be more in tune on picking up on different social cues. Consider this when planning a family vacation that may be to a another country, if your child is familiar with their local language, your child can immerse themselves in the language and culture of that place and they’ll appreciate other cultures even more.

Long-Term Health Benefits

Growing evidence has shown correlations with bilingualism delaying the effects of Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Other studies even suggest that bilinguals are less likely to have strokes and more likely to have lower stress levels.

Career Advantages

Although it may seem too early to start thinking about your child’s career now, consider the fact that bilingualism will give your child an early advantage. In our current economy, many jobs require a second language. In the future, your child has a better chance of getting job by being bilingual because companies value a multilingual staff. Being bilingual also increases the chances of higher pay. In a study conducted in 2012 by the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies, they found that bilingual Latinos in New York had an annual income that’s $15,000 higher than Latinos who only spoke English.

The Creative Child Learning Center Program

At Creative Child Learning Center, we recognize the benefits of teaching children foreign languages. At our Weston-Sunrise location only, we offer a hands-on learning program aimed to develop children who are bilingual and bi-literate. Our activities support language acquisition through music, games, art projects, authentic literature, and many more.

Montessori movable alphabet being used for early language development.

5 Tips That Can Help You Get Through Your Child’s Terrible Two’s

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Almost every parent has heard of the “terrible twos,” a developmental stage where children experience a quick shift in mood and behavior that cause problems for parents.

It’s easy to dismiss the child’s behavior as merely throwing a tantrum. However, we must be mindful that the child is undergoing many changes simultaneously. At this age, children start to develop their sense of self and independence, causing their imaginations to run wild. They are also just learning to be more mobile, so they instinctually want to test their boundaries and explore the world around them.

Here Are 5 Tips That Can Help You Get Through Your Child’s Terrible Two’s:
1. Be aware of your child’s emotions:

Keep in mind that your two-year-old’s brain is still in development. The amount of stress a toddler’s brain goes through at this stage is often overlooked, and parents can easily forget that their child doesn’t have the capacity to manage all their emotions. It’s important to remember this when parenting your two-year-old because your child will feel valued by your efforts to sympathize.

2. Make notes and address their behavior:

If you see that your child has done something wrong, talk to your child to see why they might be acting that way. Afterwards, make a note of it so you have an understanding and a solution the next time a situation like this occurs. This is also a convenient way to pass this information along to your caregivers so they have guidance on how to deal with your child’s tantrums when you’re not around.

3. Have regular meal and nap times:

Your child’s tantrums usually occur because your child’s needs are being unmet. Like infants, toddlers get highly irritable when they’re hungry, tired, or stressed by change. And just like adults, toddlers can sense when their daily routines are out of whack. As a parent, make sure your child has a steady schedule of nap and mealtimes, and avoid planning any moves around those times.

4. Don’t take it personal:

No parent is perfect. Parenting is one of those things you learn as your child grows because every child is different and has different temperaments. If your child seems more aggressive than their fellow classmates, don’t compare the two. Your child’s tantrums are not a reflection of your parenthood. Also, be mindful that children respond to environments differently and conditions that suit one child may not suit another.

5. Keep the yelling at a minimum:

Dealing with a child’s temper tantrums can be extremely frustrating. However, yelling at your child will not prevent them from having one and can even be detrimental to their development. Yelling at them can make them want to push you away. It also  could lead to copycat behavior, such as yelling at their classmates because they think that’s an appropriate way to get their point across.

At CCLC:
At Creative Child Learning Centers, we pride ourselves in treating each of our students individually with understanding, patience, and diligence. We acknowledge the fact that the emotional progression and maturity of each child will differ, so we offer an individualized learning plan for each child that will be best suited for their special needs.